ABC News reports Paula helped Corey pick songs, find a hair stylist, get meds. In advance of its special tomorrow night, ABC News is revealing details of American Idol 2 semi-finalist Corey Clark’s relationship with Paula Abdul. ABC News says Corey “had an off camera relationship with Abdul, then 40, which was at first platonic but later became sexual.” Corey says Paula told him, “I want to look out after you like I’m your mom,” but later modified that and said, “Well, maybe more like your special friend.” Paula allegedly “provided him with off-camera tips and assistance while he was a contestant, even helping him select some of the songs he would sing”; she also “helped him with his look–even choosing a hair stylist–and gave him prescription cough syrup, with a prescription made out in her name, to soothe his throat.”

Why is he talking now? Corey says, “I need to set the record straight for myself. Unfortunately, I need to set the record straight for her too, because she was a part of it. This is me telling the truth. It just so happens to be a very explosive truth.” The show released a statement that says, in part, “We will, of course, look into any evidence of improper conduct that we receive. In the meantime, we recommend that the public carefully examine Mr. Clark’s motives, given his apparent desire to exploit his prior involvement with ‘American Idol’ for profit and publicity.”

about Andy Dehnart

Andy Dehnart’s writing and criticism about television, culture, and media has appeared on NPR and in The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Pacific Standard, and other publications. He has covered reality television for more than 18 years, and created reality blurred in 2000.

A member of the Television Critics Association, Andy, 40, directs the journalism program at Stetson University in Florida, where he teaches creative nonfiction and journalism. He has an M.F.A. in nonfiction writing and literature from Bennington College. More about reality blurred and Andy.

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about reality blurred

reality blurred is your guide to the world of reality TV and unscripted entertainment, with reality show reviews, news, and analysis. It was created in 2000 by Andy Dehnart. He's still writing and publishing it today.

reality blurred is regularly updated with highlights from the world of reality TV: news and analysis; behind-the-scenes reports; interviews with reality TV show cast members and producers; and recaps and reviews of these reality TV shows, including Survivor, Big Brother, The Great British Baking Show, Shark Tank, The Amazing Race, The Bachelor, Project Runway, Dancing with the Stars, Top Chef, and many more.